Covenant Of Hope Ministries: February 2015

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Fight the Good Fight

Good afternoon, welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries. My name is Rev. Laura A. Neff, the Rainbow Minister. The choice for Rainbow has to do with the fact that the rainbow symbolizes a promise made and one that can and will be kept. I made, long ago, a promise to God that I would do all I could to keep that faith within me. We are normally posted on Sundays for sermons and Wednesdays for studies. You can find these posted in the following locations.

Main Site:http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please pray for a friend Susie Bartholow as she is in hospice. She is in very grave condition with cancer. Hospice care is in her home with her family. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

- Please pray for a friend of ours, Lucy, whose liver is failing. She is going to be on medication but may need a transplant. Pray that the first option works and she returns to health.

- Pray for a friend of my brother’s, who is far from home right now. There have been many problems for her right now. It is our hope that she will return and be here to complete her healing and more.

- Pray for our Elder Cal Jennings as he has been very ill of late. Let us help him with his heart and more, that his faith will carry him through all that is happening.

- Pray for my family as they go through still more chaos. Please pray mainly for my mother and one of my sisters as they are in the midst of the worst part of it.

- Pray for our members Theresa and Wayne who had a very rough year last year. May some of their trials and tribulations end in time for our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Pray for Brother Wayne as he has been very sick recently.

- Pray for those near and far who have been suffering in battles that do not have to be. Pray that peace can be found amidst the fear and anger, frustration and more. May hope blossom and bring that peace once more.

- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.

- Keep hope alive in your prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.

- May God bless every one of us as we continue on.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We bring prayers for those who have been seriously ill. Help those who are working to fight serious illnesses the ability to find solutions. We pray for those lost and those who mourn. Help our friends and families as they move through chaos and more. We pray for patience and courage for those we love and care about, and ourselves as well. We pray for peace to reach out from the heart and be heard, felt, and understood. We pray that Your grace and love would fill the hearts of the many in this world. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Glory Road https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRI_FlK3ip8&index=10&list=PL614A115BF39E5936

Sermon: Good afternoon. Today it was not easy finding out what God had to tell me. Then I came upon a verse and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Well, when God wants us to listen, sometimes he has to go to extreme measures. We reflect on many situations, for example Noah, the seven plagues, and many others. Today we’re looking here.

II Timothy 7:6-8 KJV – For I am now ready to be offered, and my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all of them also that love his appearing.

Look at what this says here. He’s ready to find what’s next. He wants to see the day when the crown of glory and grace would be brought to him by the LORD. Now, I can’t deny it. I would want to see the same, now and forever. There are friends and family who would pray for the same. Bring salvation to our hearts, our spirits, and our souls. Here is another verse to connect with that one.

Revelation 2:10 KJV – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Look at this! It is the prophecy from Timothy realized! Keep us from the hour of temptation that comes upon the world, trying everyone, person or creature, living here on earth. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d personally like to avoid that judgment position. If we were to be chosen to wear those crowns, think about it. It would be a gift of endless boundaries. God and Jesus have made a promise and this is the road They provide for us to get there. It’s not an easy road. We’ll stumble and fall many a time. However, that’s why we ask Him for help. He’s always there, even in the worst of times. Now, recently I have seen and heard about so many who have been in the worst of situations, and are losing their hope. I have worked hard, very hard, to rebuild the strength of their hope and show that His gifts are right here in front of us if we’re willing to reach out for them. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus brought us.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Closing Song: Living in the Promised Land https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqIyIvL-gBs&index=14&list=PL614A115BF39E5936

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister

Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter &Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site:

http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.

This mission statement speaks of the rainbow in the darkness. Every time I would have a seriously traumatic thing happen in my life I would wake in the middle of the night. When I do I see a rainbow at the end of my bed, or even through the window behind my head. I’ll see that rainbow in a dark room even during the day. It will hover in the shadows and reassure me that God is with me.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

His Strength Is Ours and Will Get Us Up On the Path Once More

Main Site:http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot

- Please pray for a friend Susie Bartholow as she is in hospice. She is in very grave condition with cancer. Hospice care is in her home with her family. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings as his heart and spirit need to be lifted high once more. Pray that inspiration would assist in this.

- Please pray for a friend of ours, Lucy, whose liver is failing. She is going to be on medication but may need a transplant. Pray that the first option works and she returns to health.

- Pray for our members Theresa and Wayne who had a very rough year last year. May some of their trials and tribulations end in time for our celebration of the birth of Jesus.

- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.

- Keep hope alive in your prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.

- May God bless every one of us as we continue on.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We thank you for the gift of inspiration, no matter when that might be. We bring prayers for those who have been seriously ill. Help those who are working to fight serious illnesses the ability to find solutions. We pray for those lost and those who mourn. We pray for patience and courage for those we love and care about, and ourselves as well. We pray for peace to reach out from the heart and be heard, felt, and understood. We pray that Your grace and love would fill the hearts of the many in this world. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: His Strength Is Perfect

Sermon: Good afternoon. Today’s sermon was influenced by a much older one, but gives a slightly different message. Many of us in this world today, whether in this ministry or otherwise have had a very hard time finding strength in themselves. It doesn’t matter which view of Christianity, all of them have seen their shares of weakness, especially lately. Let’s see what God shares with us in that regard.

Isaiah 35:3 KJV – Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

So, how do we do this? How do we strengthen our weak hands and feeble knees? How do we strengthen our spirits and more? That’s simple. Trust in the LORD. I know, the first words out of most mouths would be, it sounds simple, but that doesn’t mean it is so. Well, this is true. It can indeed be difficult to trust in the LORD to heal our feeble hearts, knees, and our weak hands.

Job 4:3, 4 KJV – Behold, thou hast instructed many, and upon thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

Look at this here. He has instructed many, and has strengthened many of the weak hands. His words have held up the ones who have fallen, or are falling, and has strengthened the knees of many.

Hebrews 12:12 KJV – Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

This is also interesting, that He not only unbends our weak knees, or helps us stand. He also straightens the path for those same feet. This keeps us on the path, fixing the path itself. Think about this. Just think about it. We might fall off the path, but that doesn’t mean the path wasn’t broken. Perhaps our thoughts strayed. Perhaps things have happened that have taken us away. Yet, He will put that path right in front of us again, straight and smooth when we learn again that He can lift us up. He can hold us securely. He loves us enough to bring that strength to our hands, our hearts, our knees, and our spirits as well. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus brought us.

Closing Song: You Raise Me Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxrX42WcjQ

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister

Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter &Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site:

http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Wish For All ~ Gain Strength in His Love

Main Site:http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot
Calvin Jennings ~ Elder
Facebook & Twitter &Blogster

- Please pray for those who are suffering from the weather conditions.

- Please pray for a friend of ours, Lucy, whose liver is failing. She is going to be on medication but may need a transplant. Pray that the first option works and she returns to health.

- Pray for our members Theresa and Wayne who had a very rough year last year. May some of their trials and tribulations end in time for our celebration of the birth of Jesus.

- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.

- Keep hope alive in your prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.

- May God bless every one of us as we continue on.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We bring prayers for those who have been seriously ill. Help those who are working to fight serious illnesses the ability to find solutions. We pray for those lost and those who mourn. We pray for those suffering from the weather conditions and other things. We pray for patience and courage for those we love and care about, and ourselves as well. We pray for peace to reach out from the heart and be heard, felt, and understood. We pray that Your grace and love would fill the hearts of the many in this world. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: I Can Only Imagine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII

Sermon: This was first published on August 19, 2012 What should a true PERSON share? It doesn't matter if you are Christian or not, these are things you should share with each other.

Awe ~ Look in the face of a child as they learn or see something new. Their faces light up with awe and admiration.

Beauty ~ In everything and everyone there is some form of beauty, just because it or they would be.

Courage ~ It takes courage to be born, to live, to love, and to die.

Delight ~ If there were no reason to smile, life would be far longer than any last mile.

Expectation ~ Some would equate this to hope, or to living up to expectation. Yet, in truth, we should have an expectation of something new, whether exciting or not, every hour, of every day.

Faith ~ just a tiny amount goes a very long way.

Gratitude ~ It doesn’t hurt to be thankful for the things you’ve got.

Honesty ~ Don’t pretend things are good when they’re bad, and don’t ask for sympathy when it isn’t warranted.

Humility ~ This is one of the most difficult ideals. It is very hard to be humble, no matter who we are, or where we live.

Hope ~ This is one thing that goes with many of those listed. In fact, there are many here that could be combined. A world without hope is a place we don’t want to be.

Love ~ Let us remember that loving one another doesn’t have guidelines, party lines, divisions of faith, state, county or national lines, it is unconditional, ever present, the building block of all that would be listed here.

Patience ~ Like humility, one of the hardest to hold onto. Even if we’re steaming we can hold on to that ounce of patience in the midst of frustration. Yes, all of us need practice here.

Peace ~ You must share peace to have peace, it isn’t a one sided deal.

Perseverance ~ To achieve anything, you must work hard to get it, and not be discouraged.

Prudence ~ Take care in the things you do, for someone is depending on that, and it might not be just you.

Reach ~ Be willing to reach for the stars, and then find a way to do that.

Seek ~ The truth is, if you seek it, you will find that which you are seeking.

Teach ~ Give this gift, the gift of what you know, how you know it, and why you love it.

Understanding ~ If we strive to understand, perhaps we ourselves shall grow.

Voice ~ Don’t be afraid to open your mouth whether you agree or disagree, and don’t forget to close your mouth when you know it will run away with you.

Will ~ Share good will, because where there is a will, there is a way.

Yesterday ~ Give the gift of memories of yesterday, for those who will be born today and tomorrow, as a lesson learned is knowledge and wisdom earned.

Zeal ~ Be enthusiastic about life and living, the things you are doing, and the ones you love.

Each of these are just bits and pieces of what true humanity should, and could be. These are things every PERSON should work toward. Sure, there are far more we could find. Nothing is written in stone, save the fact that today someone will be born, and someone will die, truth will be spoken and so will a lie. Now, there’s something to think about.

Thank you for your faith, your understanding, your laughter, and your love. I haven’t been online, as in writing letters and such, just tidbits of inspiration have been shared. But know I’ve prayed for each of you and have cared.

Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus brought us.

Closing Song: With All I Am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister

Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter &Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site:

http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Take Heart

Good afternoon, welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries. My name is Elder Cal Jennings. We are normally posted on Sundays for sermons and Wednesdays for studies. You can find these posted in the following locations.

Main Site:http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Elder Cal’s Other Sites: Blogspot & Facebook & Twitter & Google+

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter &Google+ & Blogspot

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please pray for a friend Susie Bartholow as she is in hospice. She is in very grave condition with cancer. Hospice care is in her home with her family. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

- Please pray for a friend of ours, Lucy, whose liver is failing. She is going to be on medication but may need a transplant. Pray that the first option works and she returns to health.

- Pray for Elder Cal and his friend Lucy so they might gain the ability to be closer for visits in their developing faith and more in each other.

- Pray for our members Theresa and Wayne who had a very rough year last year. May some of their trials and tribulations end soon.

- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.

- Keep hope alive in our prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.

- May God bless every one of us as we continue on.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We bring many prayers for those who have been seriously ill. Help those who are working to fight serious illnesses the ability to find solutions. We pray for those lost and those who mourn. We pray for those we love and care about. We pray for patience and courage for those family and friends we each would have, and ourselves as well. We pray for peace to reach out from the heart and be heard, felt, and understood. We pray that Your grace and love would fill the hearts of the many in this world. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Put Your Hand in the Hand ~ Ocean

http://youtu.be/JI1DiddWCKs

Sermon: We all have problems. Every single one of us. Some of our problems are more serious than the problems of others, but, to us our problems are just as important. God didn’t tell us that life would be without problems if we followed Him. He just told us to take heart and trust that He would get us through those problems.

Psalm 27:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 King James Version (KJV)
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

“Be strong and take heart.” No, this isn’t referring to the ancient Mayan and Aztec practice of cutting someone open and taking their heart. This is referring to definition 4 of the King James Version Dictionary.

4. The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, and pleasure &c.

Take courage. Be of good courage. Trust in the Lord for all of your needs. Sure, we may have troubles, but when you trust in the Lord, your needs will be filled. You don’t have to worry about whether or not things will work out. You just do what you can, and trust that things will work out. That doesn’t mean just sit back and do nothing, and everything will be dropped in your lap all the time. Sometimes we have to work on changing ourselves, or changing situations in our lives that are causing the problems.

Psalm 31:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

When you take heart and trust in the Lord, he will strengthen your heart. The more you trust, the stronger your faith will become, and the stronger your heart of faith will be. The more faith you have, the easier it will be for you to take heart.

God turns those things around.

John 16:33 King James Version (KJV)

23 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

One thing that you should know about maintaining your faith, and being able to maintain it during something important that is occurring is to watch the company who surrounds you. If you have a bunch of doubting Thomas’s around you, you’re going to have trouble maintaining your faith. Rev. Joel Osteen presented this passage concerning it.

Mark 5:21-43 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked. “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing [a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing?” The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (Which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Footnote
a. Mark 5:36 Or Ignoring

As Joel Osteen said, you can’t have people around you mocking you and putting you down when you are trying to do something important like heal someone or raise someone from the dead. Even Jesus sent everyone but Peter, James, John, and the child’s mother out of the room before he attempted to raise her from the dead.

Sometimes people are just agitators and/or detractors. You don’t need those people around you when you are doing something that important. If you’re praying FOR someone, it’s good to get them to understand that there is no reason to doubt as well. The more doubt there is, the more trouble you are going to have praying with the pureness of heart that is needed for God to answer your requests. You need everyone involved to be on board with you or the boat is likely to capsize. That is why Jesus told us these things about praying.

Mark 11:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Matthew 21:21-22 King James Version (KJV)
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig trees, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Yes, you have to believe if you want to receive what you ask for. Let me repeat that. You HAVE to believe if you want to receive what you ask for. Believe that you have received it, and it shall be done. Jesus also said that we don’t need to be too specific in what we prayed for because the Father already knows our needs. That is what Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer. Just ask and your needs regarding something be filled and God will fill them. Let God worry about HOW it’s going to happen. You just believe it IS going to happen as you pray.

Now, let’s bow our heads and pray as Jesus taught us, When he said in

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Love, Hope, Peace, and Christ be with you,

Cal-el

Closing Song: Faith to Believe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYLaz1uBSP4

About Us/

Welcome, we are Covenant of Hope Ministries. We celebrate the light in the darkness. There are those of us who need a connection, one to another, whether it is someone we want to learn about, or someone we know and wish to keep in touch with. Ministry is all about sharing faith, hope, and unconditional love. This all would offer peace from the heart. It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, if you are traveling a lot, or otherwise, we serve Christians and Others who are disabled, displaced, disadvantaged and disenchanted in today's world. Licensed Ordained Minister, Rev. Laura A. Neff, Evangelist, Cal Jennings, Outreach Ministers including Rev. Lisa, Pastor Stephen, Apostle Eric, and many others. I am licensed to perform wedding ceremonies in the state of Georgia, USA. I was ordained in 2007 by Rev. Teresa Piercey-Gates. We established this ministry in October of 2008.

MESSENGER

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Fight the Good Fight

Sunday, February 22, 2015

His Strength Is Ours and Will Get Us Up On the Path Once More

Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Wish For All ~ Gain Strength in His Love

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Take Heart